November 22, 2024 Weekly Newsletter

Dear Patriot Families,

Wishing you and your family a wonderful Thanksgiving Break next week! As we have been visiting classes, we continue to be impressed with the excellent student engagement evident throughout the building. We appreciate the hard work students are putting into the school year. We are also grateful for your ongoing support and engagement.

Have a great weekend.

Dr. Kevin Clark, Principal

In this message: 

• What’s Happening at Yorktown
• Counseling Corner
• Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Corner
• Activities Updates
• Senior Updates
• Upcoming Dates

WHAT’S HAPPENING AT YORKTOWN

Congratulations State Champion Field Hockey Team

The Yorktown Field Hockey Team won the State Championship this past weekend for the third time in four years and second consecutive year.  The team won in overtime in the semifinals and then defeated Oakton 2-1 in the championship game.  Congratulations to all the members of the team.

Nominations Open for Teacher and Employee of the Year

Nominate Teacher of the Year, Support Employee of the Year, and Assistant Principal of the Year. Submissions for YHS teachers and employees are due Tuesday, November 26. Please use this Google Form to Nominate someone for YHS Teacher, Employee or Assistant Principal of the Year. For more information visit here.

Spring Musical Auditions

Sign up today to audition for the Spring Production of “Anything Goes” with Yorktown’s Theatre Arts! Our award-winning theater department will be setting sail in April with performances of this Broadway classic.  Auditions will be held on December 2, 3 and 4, with callbacks on December 12 and 13.  December 2 is a mandatory dance audition.  Use these links to complete an audition Google Form (https://forms.gle/nMZyQJeZu6TQX8kC8) and to sign up for your singing audition on December 3 or 4 (https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0F4AACA82AA4FFC52-53380022-anything)

COUNSELING CORNER

Advisory Information

Tuesday, November 26th

9th-12th Grades: Gratitude writing prompt or students may leave with a pass to visit another teacher

Solutions to the Youth Anxiety Crisis

If you were unable to attend or view Arlington County Department of Human Services’ presentation about our youth struggling with anxiety, or you would like to view it again, please use this link to watch the recording. Dr. Dalton focused on solutions to the youth anxiety crisis. Watching can help you gain a deeper understanding of how anxiety can fuel other issues, including substance use, and effective approaches for reducing anxiety. He discussed the multiple ways for parents to engage with their child’s resilience and build tools to overcome anxiety.

For Students Taking Dual Enrollment (DE) Classes

For any students considering withdrawing from a DE course, this is a reminder that the withdrawal deadline for fall courses is quickly approaching.  Before withdrawing, students should discuss their options with their Yorktown counselor, as it may be difficult to find a non-DE course for them to switch into.

Students who wish to withdraw from a course must complete and submit a withdrawal form by the W/D deadline (Fall course deadline: 11/28). If they do not submit the withdrawal form by this date, they will remain enrolled on the NOVA roster and will receive a grade on their transcript for the coursework they did or did not do for the course.

Here is a link to the W/D form: Drop/Withdrawal of Contract Dual Enrolled StudentThey will need to log in using their NOVA credentials to access.

VHC Adolescent Outpatient Behavioral Health Services

INTENSIVE OUTPATIENT PROGRAMS (IOP)

• SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER IOP
• BEHAVIORAL HEALTH IOP

The Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) at VHC Health provides structured, intensive group counseling for youth, ages 13-17. Our programs offer personalized care to address substance use disorder and mental health recovery needs using evidenced-based practice in a welcoming and patient-centered space on the main campus of VHC Health.

COMMON CONDITIONS TREATED

• Substance Use Disorders
• Anxiety Disorders
• Mood Disorders

SERVICES PROVIDED

• Psychiatric evaluation and medication monitoring
• IOP group counseling twice per week for 6 weeks
• Individual counseling for members of IOP
• Family meetings and education
• Risk assessment, safety planning, and monitoring

TOPICS COVERED 

• Education on impacts of substances and behaviors on the brain; recovery techniques; and relapse prevention
• Building Coping Skills
• Safety Planning
• Healthy Living
• Establishing meaningful relationship connections

IOP SCHEDULE

Mon/Wed or Tues/Thurs – 3:30 pm – 6:30 pmIOP consists of two, three-hour group sessions per week for six weeks. Each session includes educational topics, therapeutic processing, and structured assignments tailored to assist recovery.

IN NETWORK INSURANCE PLANS

We accept all major commercial health insurance plans, Blue Cross/Blue Shield Federal. United Health Care, Aetna, Cigna, Medicare Part A&B, Tricare, and Virginia Medicaid

CONTACT

Phone: 703.558.6750Address: 1715 N. George Mason Dr. Suite 201Arlington, VA 22205 www.vhchealth.org

DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION CORNER

Native American Heritage Month

Did you know that, in 1990, President George H. W. Bush signed into law legislation designating the day after Thanksgiving as Native American Heritage Day?The National Museum of the American Indian in Washington, DC, celebrates Native American Heritage Month with a variety of offerings:

• Honoring Zitkala-Ša with Hoop Dancer Starr Chief Eagle: Visit the museum on Native American Heritage Day (November 29) for program that honors Zitkala-Ša (translated “Red Bird”), a member of the Yankton Dakota Sioux, who was recently honored on a coin issued by the US Mint as part of the American Women Quarters Program which celebrates the accomplishments and contributions made by women of the United States. Performances begin at 11:30 AM, 12:30, 2, and 3 PM.
• Welcome to a Native Place – November 26 & 27 – 1-1:30pm: Enjoy tribal songs from Alaska to Florida with Dennis Zotigh (Kiowa/Isanti Dakota/Ohkay Owingeh Pueblo) in the Potomac Atrium. At the end of the 30-minute presentation, visitors are encouraged to ask questions pertaining to the museum and Indigenous culture, past and present.
• Visit the Native Art Market – December 7 & 8 – 10am – 5:30pm: the market features award-winning and innovative Indigenous artists from across the Western Hemisphere. This weekend event invites lovers of art and craftsmanship to meet Native artists and learn about traditional Native arts and contemporary Native creativity
• Watch short and feature films curated in the Native Cinema Showcase (all films are available on demand from November 22- 29)

ACTIVITIES UPDATES

Club of the Week: The Bird Club

The YHS Club of the Week is the Bird Club. The purpose of the Bird Club is to learn about birds and conservation of birds and their habitats and build awareness of the wildlife native to Virginia. See Mr. Bridwell or Ms. Kravitz for more information.

Congratulations Coach Hanson – Coaching Search Information

Coach Hanson announced on Thursday he is retiring as the head football coach. This season marked Coach Hanson’s 40th at Yorktown High School.  The members of this year’s varsity team had the honor of delivering him his 300th victory.  These numbers are rarely achieved by head football coaches and put him at the top of his profession in the state and throughout the country.

As we thank Coach Hanson for his unparalleled commitment to Yorktown High School and the Yorktown High School football team, we begin the process of moving forward.  Our goal is to have a new coach in place no later than the first few weeks of January to oversee winter conditioning and start laying the foundations for next season. Applications will be accepted until December 6 and as members of the Yorktown community, we encourage you to reach out to those you think would be a good fit to lead our 125-player, three-level football team.  Interested parties can reach out to Michael Krulfeld with their resume and letter of interest.

Where to find Athletics Information

Athletic Website – www.yorktownsports.org

Athletic Twitter – @yhssports

Athletic Instagram – @yhssports

Athletic Specific Sport Information – www.teamapp.com

Athletic Registration – https://yorktownhs-ar.rschooltoday.com/

Looking Ahead to Spring Sports – February 24

For your planning purposes, spring sports begin on February 24th.  Students can join www.teamapp.com for specific off-season and tryout information for spring sports, which will be posted as it becomes available.  Please make sure to register on the new athletic registration site before attending any off-season activities or tryouts (see information above).

SENIOR UPDATES

Be sure to bookmark the Seniors website which is linked on the Yorktown HS home page under Quicklinks and loaded with information for senior year. Find answers to your questions about these and more:

• Announcements and Rings
• Caps & Gowns
• Class Dues
• Graduation
• Off Campus Lunch Privilege
• Prom
• Senior Experience
• Senior Portraits
• Yearbooks

Baby Photos 

Seniors, please submit your baby photo by January 5th. You can upload your photo here: https://forms.gle/iXuhoM7TyLY1n7tY9. No photos will be accepted after this date. Additionally, all senior pose selections for the yearbook are due December 15th. On December 16th the orders are finalized and sent to the yearbook staff to be uploaded in the book. No changes can be made after December 16th. If you would like to verify your pose, you can stop by room 264 (Mr. Olsen’s room) and verify and/or change their selected pose.

Cap and Gown Orders

Seniors can now order their cap and gowns. Please stop by the Activities Office to do so. No payment is required at this time. Price is included in the senior dues.

Save the Date 

Class of 2025 Graduation – 7 p.m., Wednesday, June 4, at DAR Constitution Hall.

UPCOMING DATES

See YHS Calendar or the APS Calendar for more information:

• Wednesday-Friday, November 27-29 Thanksgiving Holiday – No school
• Wednesday, December 11 – Early Release (1:00 pm) Professional Learning